Flat foot orthosis

ABSTRACT

A flat foot orthosis has two bodies, and each one of the two bodies has a wearing space, a foot portion, an ankle portion, a shank portion, a substrate, and a first elastomer. The substrate and the first elastomer are disposed adjacent to each other, and surround the wearing space. The substrate extends from the foot portion to the shank portion through the ankle portion. The first elastomer extends from an instep of the foot portion at a cuboid bone of a wearer through a lateral side of the foot portion, a sole of the foot portion, and an arch of the foot portion in order, wraps over a navicular bone of the wearer, and extends outwardly combining upwardly through the ankle portion at a talus bone of the wearer toward the shank portion.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an orthosis for lower limbs, and moreparticularly to a flat foot orthosis that may correct pronation of thefoot (functional flat foot), hallux valgus, internal rotation of lowerlimbs, knee valgus, and pelvic tilt and torsion.

2. Description of Related Art

For most of human history, humans step on soft surfaces such as dirt,sand, or grass, the soft surfaces would conform to each foot due topressure, and provide support for the feet. For instance, in theinspection of a footprint in sand, the lateral side of the footprintmakes an indention. The medial side of the footprint does not indent,but rather the sand supports the medial arch of the foot. As a result,the support prevented pronation of feet, and prevents collapsed medialarches. This kept their bone structures aligned, and maintained acorrect alignment of bones and joints and proper biomechanics. However,in the modern society, hard surfaces such as concrete pavement do notconform to feet. So when people step on hard surfaces, the feet areexposed to increased pressure and unalign pronate. In more severesituations, bone and joint alignments of the foot may become unaligned.Ankle joints may also be affected. Talus adduction combine inversion mayoccur. A subtalar joint may suffer subluxation. Internal rotations oflower limbs (a tibia and a femur), knee valgus, and functional leglength inequality may occur. The internal rotation of the femur makes afemoral head of the femur backwardly push a pelvic acetabulum, andpelvic tilt will thereby occur. A tilted pelvis may lead to curved spinecompensation, and subsequently functional scoliosis, unbalanced tensionsof paraspine muscles and soft tissue may thereby occur. Such disorderedbone and joint alignments and improper biomechanics cause symptoms suchas plantar fasciitis, Achilles tendon pain, shin splint, MCL (medialcollateral ligament) stretch and lateral meniscus compression, ACL(anterior cruciate ligament) stretch, patella valgus, ITB (iliotibialband) syndrome, gluteus medius dysfunction, pelvic tilt & torsion,functional leg length inequality, functional scoliosis, hip jointbursitis, prirformis syndrome, psoas major & multifidus stretch &weakness, SI (sacroiliac) joint subluxation & sacrolitis, HIVD(herniation of inter-vertebral disc), lumbar facet joint syndrome, softtissue tightness or spondylolisthesis, shoulder elevation compensationdysfunction, CT (cervical thoracic) junction, cervical disc herniation,cervical facet joint syndrome, neck and upper back myofascial problem,TMJ (temporomandibular joint) subluxation, unilateral headache, etc.

With reference to FIGS. 17, 18A, and 18B, a foot 90 of a person isoverpronated. The overpronated foot 90 causes an above-located tibia 91to internally rotate, and a corresponding femur 92 would internallyrotate as well. As a result, the corresponding knee joint 99 of theperson would cause knee valgus. A femoral head 93 of the femur 92 wouldpush an acetabulum 94 of a pelvis 95 backwardly, and further causepelvic tilt and torsion. A spine 96 of the person becomes curved spinecompensation, namely scoliosis, as a result of the tilted pelvis 95.Moreover, a scapula 97 and a clavicle 98 would be also tilted due to thescoliosis. In summary, the serial disorder of bone and joint alignmentscreates poor postures, and accordingly the person may suffer thoseaforementioned symptoms.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The main objective of the present invention is to provide a flat footorthosis that may keep correct bone and joint alignments and properbiomechanics, and correct poor postures, and subsequent discomfort andmuscular sore & pains.

The flat foot orthosis comprises two bodies, and each one of the twobodies has a wearing space, a foot portion, an ankle portion, a shankportion, a substrate, and a first elastomer. The foot portion has a solelocated on a bottom of the foot portion, an instep located on a top ofthe foot portion, an arch, and a lateral side. The arch and the lateralside are located on two horizontal sides of the foot portion, whereinthe arch is located on one of the two horizontal sides that faces theother one of the two bodies. Each one of the arch and the lateral sideis connected to the sole and the instep. The ankle portion is connectedto the foot portion. The shank portion is connected to the ankleportion. The substrate and the first elastomer are disposed adjacent toeach other, and surround the wearing space. The substrate extends fromthe foot portion to the shank portion through the ankle portion. Thefirst elastomer extends from the instep of the foot portion at a cuboidbone of a wearer through the lateral side, the sole, and the arch inorder, wraps over a navicular bone of the wearer, and extends throughthe ankle portion at a talus bone of the wearer toward the shankportion.

Other objectives, advantages and novel features of the invention will bedescribed in the following detailed description when taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front side view of a flat foot orthosis of a firstembodiment in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the flat foot orthosis in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is another side view of the flat foot orthosis in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the flat foot orthosis in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a front side view of a flat foot orthosis of a secondembodiment in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a side view of the flat foot orthosis in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is another side view of the flat foot orthosis in FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is a bottom view of the flat foot orthosis in FIG. 5;

FIG. 9 is a front side view of a flat foot orthosis of a thirdembodiment in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a side view of the flat foot orthosis in FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a front side view of a flat foot orthosis in a firstconfiguration of a fourth embodiment in accordance with the presentinvention;

FIG. 12 is a front side view of a flat foot orthosis in a secondconfiguration of the fourth embodiment in accordance with the presentinvention;

FIG. 13 is a rear side view of the flat foot orthosis in FIG. 11;

FIG. 14 is a front side view of a flat foot orthosis in a firstconfiguration of a fifth embodiment in accordance with the presentinvention;

FIG. 15 is a front side view of a flat foot orthosis in a secondconfiguration of the fifth embodiment in accordance with the presentinvention;

FIG. 16 is a rear side view of the flat foot orthosis in FIG. 14;

FIG. 17 shows disordered bone arrangements of a human body caused by anoverpronated foot;

FIG. 18A shows a normal bone arrangement in a hip joint of a wearer; andFIG. 18B shows a disordered bone arrangement in a hip joint of thewearer caused by the overpronated foot in FIG. 17.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With reference to FIGS. 1, 5, 9, 11, 12, 14, and 15, the presentinvention provides five embodiments of a flat foot orthosis. The flatfoot orthosis in each one of the five embodiments comprises two bodies10 a, 10 b, 10 c, 10 d, 10 e. Each one of the two bodies 10 a, 10 b, 10c, 10 d, 10 e has a wearing space disposed inside, and comprises a footportion 11, an ankle portion 12, and a shank portion 14. The footportion 11 has a sole 111, an instep 112, an arch 113, and a lateralside 114. The sole 111 is located on a bottom of the foot portion 11.The instep 112 is located on a top of the foot portion 11. The sole 111and the instep 112 vertically align with each other. The arch 113 andthe lateral side 114 are located on two horizontal sides of the footportion 11, wherein the arch 113 is on one of the two horinzontal sidesthat faces the other one of the two bodies 10 a, 10 b, 10 c, 10 d, 10 e.Each one of the arch 113 and the lateral side 114 is connected with thesole 111 and the instep 112. The ankle portion 12 is connected to thefoot portion 11. The shank portion 14 is connected to the ankle portion12.

Each one of the two bodies 10 a, 10 b, 10 c, 10 d, 10 e has a substrate17 and a first elastomer 18. The substrate 17 and the first elastomer 18are disposed adjacent to each other, and wrap the wearing space of thebody 10 a, 10 b, 10 c, 10 d, 10 e. The substrate 17 extends from thefoot portion 11 to the shank portion 14 through the ankle portion 12.The first elastomer 18 spirally extends along the substrate 17, andpasses through the arch 113 of the foot portion 11.

With reference to FIGS. 1 to 4, 5 to 8, 9 and 10, 11 to 13, and 14 to16, the first elastomer 18 extends from the instep 112, wraps over acuboid bone A of a wearer 30, extends through the lateral side 114, thesole 111, and the arch 113 in order, and wraps over a navicualr bone Bof the wearer 30 at the arch 113. Afterwards the first elastomer 18extends toward the shank portion 14, and wraps over a talus bone C ofthe wearer 30 at the ankle portion 12. With reference to FIGS. 1 to 4, 5to 8, 11 to 13, and 14 to 16, each one of the two bodies 10 a, 10 b, 10d, 10 e of the first, the second, the fourth, and the fifth embodimentshas a toe portion 13. The toe portion 13 is connected to a front end ofthe foot portion 11. The substrate 17 extends from the foot portion 11to the toe portion 13. The toe portion 13 has five divisions for thewearer's five toes. Furthermore, with reference to FIGS. 1, 5, and 9,each one of the two bodies 10 a, 10 b, 10 c of the first, the second,and the third embodiments has an opening located above the ankle portion12, respectively a first opening, a second opening, and a third opening.The opening communicates with the wearing space. The first elastomer 18surrounds and fetters the shank portion 14 above the ankle portion 12.

With reference to FIGS. 5 to 8, the toe portion 13 comprises a halluxsheath 131. The hallux sheath 131 of the toe portion 13 is connected tothe foot portion 11 at a hallux valgus region 132. The hallux valgusregion 132 is located between the hallux sheath 131 and the arch 113 ofthe foot portion 11. Each one of the two bodies 10 b has a secondelastomer 19. The second elastomer 19 spirally extends toward the ankleportion 12 from the hallux sheath 131 at a top of the wearer's hallux,through a bottom of the wearer's hallux, further extends through andwraps the hallux valgus region 132, wraps over a 1^(st) metatarsalproximal phalangeal joint D of the wearer 30 at the hallux valgus region132, and is connected to the first elastomer 18 at the instep 112.

With reference to FIGS. 11 to 13, each one of the two bodies 10 d has aknee portion 15 and a thigh portion 16. The knee portion 15 is connectedto an upper end of the shank portion 14. The thigh portion 16 isconnected to the knee portion 15, and is connected to the shank portion14 through the knee portion 15. Based on the above-mentionedembodiments, the substrate 17 extends from the ankle portion 12 throughthe shank portion 14 and the knee portion 15, to the thigh portion 16.Each one of the two bodies 10 d has a fourth opening located upon thethigh portion 16. The fourth opening communicates with the wearingspace. With reference to FIGS. 12 and 13, the first elastomer 18, or thefirst elastomer 18 connected with the second elastomer 19, extendsthrough a rear side of the shank portion 14, obliquely extends incombination with upward and inward turns through an inner side of theknee portion 15 in order, and surrounds and fetters the thigh portion16.

With reference to FIGS. 14 to 16, each one of the two bodies 10 e has aknee portion 15 and a thigh portion 16. The knee portion 15 is connectedto an upper end of the shank portion 14. The thigh portion 16 isconnected to the knee portion 15, and is connected to the shank portion14 through the knee portion 15. Based on the aforementioned embodiments,the substrate 17 extends from the ankle portion 12, through the shankportion 14 and the knee portion 15, and to the thigh portion 16. Theflat foot orthosis further comprises a pelvis portion 20. The pelvisportion 20 is connected with upper ends of the two thigh portions 16 ofthe two bodies 10 e. The pelvis portion 20 has a fifth openingcommunicating with the wearing spaces of the two bodies 10 e.

With reference to FIGS. 15 and 16, the first elastomer 18, or the firstelastomer 18 connected with the second elastomer 19, extends through arear side of the shank portion 14, obliquely extends in combination withupward and inward turns through an inner side of the knee portion 15,and extends through a front side of the thigh portion 16 in order,spirally extends through the pelvis portion 20, wraps a hip joint H ofthe wearer 30, and wraps over an Ischia I, a sacrum J, a sacroiliacjoint K, and an iliac crest L of the wearer 30 at a rear side of thepelvis portion 20. The two first elastomers 18 intersect with each otherat the rear side of the pelvis portion 20, and surround and fetter wherethe wearer's pelvis and the wearer's waist meet.

The flat foot orthosis may provide the wearer 30 with an effect of boneand joint alignment correction. With reference to FIGS. 1 to 4, 5 to 8,9 and 10, 11 to 13, and 14 to 16, after the wearer 30 puts on the twobodies 10 a, 10 b, 10 c, 10 d, 10 e, the foot portions 11 cover thewearer's feet, wherein the arches 113 cover the wearer's medial arches,the insteps 112 cover the wearer's insteps, and the soles 111 cover andare located under the wearer's soles. The ankle portions 12 and theshank portions 14 are sheathed on the wearer's ankles and shanks,respectively. The first elastomer 18 of each one of the two bodies 10 a,10 b, 10 c, 10 d, 10 e extends outwardly and downwardly from the instep112 through the lateral side 114. Then the first elastomer 18 extendstoward the ankle portion 12 through the sole 111 and the arch 113 inorder. Therefore, the first elastomer 18 may provide a stretching andpressing force on the wearer's medial arch, and the overpronated foot ofthe wearer 30 may be corrected to normal.

With reference to FIGS. 5 to 8, 12, and 15, the second elastomer 19 ofeach one of the second, the fourth, and the fifth embodiments extendsfrom a bottom of the hallux sheath 131 to a top of the hallux sheath131, extends through the hallux valgus region 132, and further extendstoward the ankle portion 12 through the instep 112. Thereby the secondelastomer 19 may provide a stretching and pressing force to correcthallux valgus that may occur at the hallux valgus region 132.

With reference to FIGS. 11 to 13, in the fourth embodiment, the firstelastomer 18 further extends through the knee portion 15 and the thighportion 16. Consequently, the first elastomer 18 may provide a torque tothe wearer's shank and the wearer's thigh to externally rotate, andprovide an outward pushing force to correct knee valgus.

With reference to FIGS. 14 to 16, in the fifth embodiment, the firstelastomer 18 extends from the shank portion 14 through the inner side ofthe knee portion 15, and further extends through the thigh portion 16 tothe pelvis portion 20. In addition to the described benefits of thefourth embodiment, the first elastomer 18 may provide an externallyrotating torque and a pressing force for the hip joint H to correctpelvic tilt and torsion due to internal rotated femur and backwardlypushed acetabulum of the pelvis of the wearer 30.

With reference to FIGS. 1 to 4, 5 to 8, 9, and 10, the two bodies 10 a,10 b, 10 c of the flat foot orthosis may be configured as socks or anklebraces. The first elastomer 18 thereof fetters the shank portion 14 thatis above the ankle portion 12, so the first elastomer 18 may be therebystretched and fixed to provide a stretching and pressing force.Moreover, with reference to FIGS. 11 to 13, and 14 to 16, the flat footorthosis is configured as over-the-knee socks or pantyhose.

With the aforementioned technical characteristics, the flat footorthosis utilizes the first elastomers 18 to stretch the arch 113,further to push the knee portion 15, or to rotate the pelvis portion 20to apply corrective forces on relevant parts of the wearer 30.Therefore, appropriate bone and joint alignments and proper biomechanicsmay be continued to maintain for the wearer 30. Poor postures, andsubsequent discomfort and muscular sores & pains due to disordered boneand joint alignments may be alleviated. Consequently, after the flatfoot has been corrected by the present invention, the wearer 30 improveshealth and better postures.

When the wearer 30 wears the flat foot orthosis, the first elastomers 18may provide the stretching and pressing forces to pull the wearer'smedial arches, to maintain correct bone and joint alignments of thelower limbs, the knee joint, the hip joint H, the pelvis, and to preventhallux valgus, functional flat feet, and pelvic tilt and torsion.

Even though several characteristics and advantages of the presentinvention have been set forth in the foregoing description, togetherwith details of the structure and features of the invention, thedisclosure is illustrative only. Changes may be made in the details,especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts withinthe principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by thebroad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims areexpressed.

What is claimed is:
 1. A flat foot orthosis comprising: two bodies, eachone of the two bodies having a wearing space disposed inside the body; afoot portion having a sole located on a bottom of the foot portion; aninstep located on a top of the foot portion; an arch located on one oftwo horizontal sides of the foot portion, facing the other one of thetwo bodies, and connected to the sole and the instep; and a lateral sidelocated on the other one of the two horizontal sides of the footportion, and connected to the sole and the instep; an ankle portionconnected to the foot portion; a shank portion connected to the ankleportion; a substrate surrounding the wearing space, and extending fromthe foot portion to the shank portion through the ankle portion; and afirst elastomer disposed adjacent to the substrate, surrounding thewearing space, extending from the instep of the foot portion at a cuboidbone of a wearer through the lateral side, the sole, and the arch inorder, wrapping over a navicular bone of the wearer, and extendingthrough the ankle portion at a talus bone of the wearer toward the shankportion.
 2. The flat foot orthosis as claimed in claim 1, wherein thefirst elastomer of each one of the two bodies surrounds and fetters theshank portion of the body.
 3. The flat foot orthosis as claimed in claim2, wherein each one of the two bodies has a toe portion connected to afront end of the foot portion, and having a hallux sheath; a halluxvalgus region located between the hallux sheath and the arch of the footportion; and a second elastomer extending from the hallux sheath at atop of the wearer's hallux, through a bottom of the wearer's hallux,further extending upwardly through and wrapping the hallux valgusregion, through the instep toward the ankle portion, and connected tothe first elastomer; wherein the substrate extends from the foot portionto the toe portion.
 4. The flat foot orthosis as claimed in claim 1,wherein each one of the two bodies has a knee portion connected to theshank portion; and a thigh portion connected to the knee portion;wherein the first elastomer of each one of the two bodies extends to thethigh portion through a rear side of the shank portion, obliquelyextends in combination with upward and inward turns through an innerside of the knee portion, extends through a front side of the thighportion, and surrounds and fetters the thigh portion.
 5. The flat footorthosis as claimed in claim 4, wherein each one of the two bodies has atoe portion connected to a front end of the foot portion, and having ahallux sheath; a hallux valgus region located between the hallux sheathand the arch of the foot portion; and a second elastomer extending fromthe hallux sheath at a top of the wearer's hallux, through a bottom ofthe wearer's hallux, further extending upwardly through and wrapping thehallux valgus region, through the instep toward the ankle portion, andconnected to the first elastomer; wherein the substrate extends from thefoot portion to the toe portion.
 6. The flat foot orthosis as claimed inclaim 1, wherein the flat foot orthosis has each one of the two bodieshaving a knee portion connected to the shank portion; and a thighportion connected to the knee portion; and a pelvis portion connected tothe two thigh portions of the two bodies, and wrapping over a hip jointof the wearer; wherein the first elastomer of each one of the two bodiesextends through a rear side of the shank portion, obliquely extends incombination with upward and inward turns through an inner side of theknee portion, spirally extends through the thigh portion and the pelvisportion, wraps the wearer's hip joint, intersects with the firstelastomer of the other one of the two bodies at a rear side of thewearer's hip behind the wearer's pelvis, extends and wraps over asacroiliac joint and an iliac crest of the wearer, and surrounds andfetters where the wearer's pelvis and the wearer's waist meet.
 7. Theflat foot orthosis as claimed in claim 6, wherein each one of the twobodies has a toe portion connected to a front end of the foot portion,and having a hallux sheath; a hallux valgus region located between thehallux sheath and the arch of the foot portion; and a second elastomerextending from the hallux sheath at a top of the wearer's hallux,through a bottom of the wearer's hallux, further extending upwardlythrough and wrapping the hallux valgus region, through the instep towardthe ankle portion, and connected to the first elastomer; wherein thesubstrate extends from the foot portion to the toe portion.